Temporal patterns in the upstream migration of European glass eels ( Anguilla anguilla) at the Couesnon estuarine dam

Abstract

The temporal migration patterns of European glass eel Anguilla anguilla at the Couesnon estuarine dam (Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, France) were examined in winter and spring 2004 and 2005. The dam which is located close to the river mouth constitutes a major obstacle for upstream-migrating glass eels. The migration was observed at different temporal scales, from within individual tides to complete tidal cycles between successive spring tides. The maximum number of glass eels arrived downstream of the dam at the beginning and in the middle of the flood tide. Glass eels migrated through the dam openings preferentially from the middle of the flood to the beginning of the ebb tide. Eel densities were highest during the second tide of each tide cycle that arrived at the estuarine dam and when the difference in water level between upstream and downstream of the dam was greatest, particularly at the end of the flood. Analysis of the influence of each environmental factor provided a good prediction of the glass eel recruitment peaks and, therefore, of the most favourable temporal windows for their migration. The water level and temperature were the most important environmental factors. These results provide the information needed for a dam-management program that is compatible with glass eel migration.